Cosplayers take over the Baird Center for Anime Milwaukee, Wisconsin's largest anime convention
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A big and bright convention is taking over downtown this weekend.
Anime Milwaukee returns to the Baird Center.
Last year's convention brought 17,000 attendees to the three-day celebration of Japanese animation and pop culture.
"As a kid you like these things and are like, 'oh I'm kind of weird for liking these things,'" said Andi Roberts, visiting from Madison. "Then you realize not only are there communities for it - there are big communities for it."
Anime Milwaukee brings together cosplayers - people dressed as fictional characters - for panels, workshops and exhibits.
"I'm excited for the panels, I think AMKE has a really good selection of panels run by the actual con and panels just run by fans," said Ram, an attendee visiting from Illinois.
Perhaps the most impressive part is the costumes, as attendees transform into their favorite characters from head to toe.
"All of his was basically handmade, so over the course of a couple months I was putting this together," said Rhyan Lindemann, a cosplayer from Racine.
For some, it's the first time.
"It was something I've never done before, so it was a good experiment," said attendee Joe BonDurant.
For others, though, it's a lifestyle.
"I've been cosplaying since I was 14 years old and it's just something I love to do, it's my hobby," said Lore Barker, visiting from Madison.
This is Anime Milwaukee's 17th year. It's the largest anime convention in Wisconsin.
"We all kind of are able to get together and do the things that make us really happy as a community," Roberts said.
Organizers say the 2024 convention brought an $8 million economic impact to downtown Milwaukee.
This year's convention runs March 7-9 at the Baird Center.